The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 280

MADDIE

"Do it," he said.

I knew what he meant. I released all the power I'd been holding back, letting it erupt from the shield. The energy slammed into the rouge king and Tara, knocking them to the ground. The black magic dissolved completely.

Atlas and Lawrence immediately pounced on our enemies. I tried to move but fell after a few steps, my legs giving out beneath me. I watched as Atlas transformed into Luke, his primal wolf, and without hesitation ripped the rouge king's heart from his chest.

Then he was back at my side, lifting me up, kissing me. I started to cry. We turned and saw something that shattered my heart.

Jace knelt on the ground, cradling Aria's lifeless body in his arms.

She had used her soul healing power—the ability she hadn't used in many years because they all knew it would kill her. She used it to save her son.

Jace's agonized howl tore through the night. Every wolf joined him, their voices rising in mourning. The surface of Moon Light Lake rippled, as if the Moon Goddess herself was grieving for our brave queen.

I buried my face against Atlas's chest and wept for the mother who had given everything for her son.

The moon darkened as clouds moved across the sky.

ATLAS

She used soul healing to save me.

The thought kept repeating in my mind as I stared out the window of our bedroom. My mother used the ability everyone knew would kill her. To save me.

Four days had passed since the battle with Magnus and his rogues. Four days since I watched my father cradle my mother's lifeless body, his howl of grief still echoing in my nightmares. The pack had been working non-stop, clearing the battlefield, burning the bodies of fallen rogues, honoring our dead. We lost eleven warriors and six vampire allies. Not a small number, but far fewer than what might have been without my mother's sacrifice.

I ran my hand through my hair, exhaustion weighing on me. The victory felt hollow. We'd killed Magnus, ended the threat, but at what cost?

Behind me, Maddie lay curled in our bed, finally sleeping after two days of complete collapse. The amount of power she'd channeled from nature had nearly killed her too. Dr. Maya had stayed by her side constantly, monitoring her recovery, giving her herbs to restore her energy. When she was awake, the guilt in her eyes was unbearable.

"It should have been enough," she'd whispered yesterday, the first words she'd spoken since the battle. "My shield should have been enough to protect you both."

I'd tried to convince her that nobody blamed her—least of all me—but she wouldn't hear it. She refused to leave our quarters, couldn't bear the thought of facing my father.

"He lost his mate because of me," she'd said, tears streaming down her face. "How can I look him in the eye?"

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I opened it to find Victor, the Vampire King, his face solemn.

"The funeral preparations are complete," he said quietly. "Your father asked me to inform you the ceremony will begin at sundown."

I nodded. "Thank you. For everything."

Victor placed a hand on my shoulder. "We all knew the risks, Atlas. Every warrior, every ally." His ancient eyes held centuries of loss. "Your mother was extraordinary. The entire supernatural world will honor her sacrifice."

After he left, I returned to the window, watching pack members place white flowers along the path to the royal burial grounds. The funeral would bring leaders from every allied pack. My mother had been beloved by all.

"Is she still sleeping?"

I turned to find my father standing in the doorway. I hadn't heard him approach—a testament to how distracted I was. His face was drawn, new lines etched around his eyes. He seemed to have aged years in days.

"Yes," I answered, glancing at Maddie's sleeping form. "Dr. Maya says she'll recover fully, but it will take time."

Dad stepped into the room, his eyes resting on Maddie with unexpected gentleness. "She saved you too, you know. Her shield gave your mother the chance to reach you."

"I know." I moved closer to him, unsure what to say. What words could possibly matter now? "Dad, I—"

"Don't." He stopped me with a raised hand. "There's nothing to say. Your mother made her choice." His voice cracked slightly. "She always knew she would, if it came to it."

"What do you mean?"

He smiled sadly. "We discussed it years ago, after a close call during a border skirmish. She told me if it ever came down to choosing between her life and yours or Aurora's, there would be no choice at all." He looked out the window toward the gathering crowd. "Your mother would never let any of us die if she could prevent it, even at the cost of her own life."

Those words hung between us, heavy with truth and grief.

"Maddie thinks you blame her," I said finally.

"I know." Dad sighed. "I need to speak with her. Alone, if you don't mind."

I hesitated. Maddie was still fragile, both physically and emotionally.

"She won't face me otherwise," he added, reading my expression. "And she needs to be at the ceremony. For herself as much as for your mother."

He was right. I nodded reluctantly. "I should go check the burial grounds anyway."

Just then, Maddie stirred, her eyes opening slowly. When she saw my father, panic flashed across her face. She sat up too quickly, wincing from the effort.

"King Jace," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I—"

Dad raised his hand again, cutting off what was surely about to be an apology. "We need to talk, Maddie."

I leaned down to kiss Maddie's forehead. "I'll be back soon."

Her eyes pleaded with me not to leave, but I squeezed her hand reassuringly. This conversation needed to happen, and they needed privacy for it. I slipped out the door, pausing briefly in the hallway as my father took a seat beside her bed.

"My wife loved you like a daughter," I heard him say before I forced myself to walk away.

Outside, the sky had darkened with approaching storm clouds—fitting weather for burying a queen. Pack members nodded respectfully as I passed, their eyes filled with sympathy I couldn't bear to acknowledge. I headed toward the royal burial grounds, where my mother's body had been prepared according to ancient tradition.

Tonight, we would say goodbye. Tomorrow, we would begin to live in a world without her light.

The first drops of rain began to fall as I reached the sacred clearing where many of my loved ones and important figures rested. I knelt beside my mother's flower-covered bier and allowed my tears to finally fall freely.